Around 1:30 p.m. today, outside linebacker Antwan Barnes announced that, after a few days of deliberation, he had chosen the Jets as his destination in free agency.

He thanked head coach Rex Ryan, defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman and general manager John Idzik (or as Barnes spelled it on Twitter, Idzilk) in a post on his official page that was retweeted more than 270 times.

A few minutes later, though, Barnes had to backtrack.

The deal was not yet official.

A new post read: "Wait a minute...not official yet...in talks now...#letsgetadealdone."

Hours passed, and eventually the Jets made the deal official. Barnes, playing along, posted a photo of himself signing all the documents.

In whatever roundabout way it happened, the Jets managed to secure themselves an established pass-rusher who fit in line with Idzik’s razor-thin budget.

According to multiple reports, Barnes, 28, will earn roughly $4 million over three years, with a chance at multiple escalators that could bring the contract up to $6 million.

An original draft pick of Ryan’s and Thurman’s in Baltimore (fourth round, 2007) Barnes has 23½ career sacks, including 11 in the 2011 season. That season stood as a bit of an anomaly as his production dwindled in 2012. The Jets will be his fourth team, following stints with the Ravens, Eagles and Chargers.